Method of producing vaporous mixtures containing air



INVENTOR HERMANN H. SCHMIDT June 13, 1944. H, SCHMIDT 2,351,072

METHOD OF PRODUCING VAPOROUS MIXTURES CONTAINING AIR Filed Oct. 1, 1941ATTORNEY mats June 1 3, 1944 METHOD OF PRODUCING VAPOROUS ES CONTAININGAIR Hermann H. Schmidt, Hanover,

Company, St. Joseph, Missouri Kana, assignor The Universal Royalty andDevelopment Mm, a corporation oi Application October 1, 1941 Serial No.413,187

My invention relates to a method of producing vaporous mixturescontaining air, such as preparing fuels for combustion, and producing asubstantially uniform mixture of air and a liquid in a finely divided,substantially vaporous state, which, in the case of a fuel, is a mixturehaving substantially uniform properties of combustion.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a method of producing acombustible mixture for use in a combustion chamber, such as a cylinderof an internal combustion engine, in which the fuel is so finely dividedand uniformly blended that, if the proper proportions of fuel and airare used to produce the blend, ,there will be practically nothingexhausted from the chamber that is not a product of complete method canbe used with any combustible material, whether liquid or powdered solidmaterial, or a mixture of the two, as long as the material is capable ofbeing finely divided. Vaporous mixtures, or nebulous mixtures, ofliquids that are not readily vaporizable, and solid fuels and air can bemade by my, method where this is impossible by methods previously inuse.

While my method is particularly adapted for preparing fuels forcombustion, it is also equally as useful in producing vaporous mixturesof a liquid, or a powdered solid, or a liquid and a powdered solid, andair, or of a plurality of liquids and air, or of a gas or vapor and air,so as to thoroughly blend the air therewith and produce a substantiallyuniform mixture of air and combustion. My

the finely divided liquid, or solid particles, or

air and liquid and solid particles, or vapor or gas and air, whichparticles, in the case of a liquid,

are so finely divided as to form substantially a vapor, or mist, or fog.

The thoroughness of blending of the material is obtained due to thewhirling of the air and the liquid, or powdered material, or the liquidand powdered vapor or gas. in a chamber at high velocity, so as to causecentrifugal force to throw the liquid or solid particles outwardlytoward the periphery.

of the centrifugal whirl thus created, the liquid or solid material andair being introduced into the whirl either at the, center thereof ornear the center, but eccentrically thereof. This whirling is,preferably, done by means of rotatable impellin'g means, such asdescribed in my Patent No. 2,241,425, patented May 13, 1941, and in' myco-pending application, Serial No. 196,525, flied March 17," 1938,patented December 9, 1941, Patent No. 2,265,199. The essential parts ofa simple material, or plurality of liquids or 14 Claims. (Cl. 48-180)method also involves the discharge of the material blended with the airdirectly from the periphery of the whirl in a vaporous condition, theformation of the vaporous mixture being due to the rapid rotation of theimpelling means and to the bombarding of the walls of the confiningspace with the liquid or solid-material, that is to be blended with theair, and the subjecting of the liquid, or similar material, to ashearing action while under the influence of the cmtrifugal force, h

and particularly to' the creation of streams of liquid that inter-engageeach other at the periphery of the whirl to aid in the breaking up ofthe particles of the liquid and forming a fine, thoroughly broken up,vaporous material therefrom that is thoroughly and completely blendedwith the air. The streams of the liquid particles are created whileunder the influence of centrifugal force, by dividing the material thatis being whirled centrifugally into two bodies, that are keptseparateuntil the material reaches the pe-' riphery of the whirl, where the sameform into streams that engage each other violently to cause the finedivision of the liquid, or powdered material, that is being so whirled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thedescription of the same proceeds. I desire to have it-understood,however, that I do not intended to limit myself to the particulardetails shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

' .Inthe drawing:

l, and on a somewhat enlarged scale.

While any suitable means may be used for confining the combustiblematerial, or other liquid or powdered material, or plurality of liquidsor" vapor or gas, that are to be blended-with air to form a vaporous ormist-like, or fog-like mixture Fig. 2 is a section taken at rightanglesto Fig.

of air and liquid, or-flnely divided solid material,

or-liquid and powdered material, or plurality of liquids, or vapor orgas, while a whirl is bein set up therein to whip the'same about andfinely divide the material to form a mist-like or vaporous blendof thesame and air, and while any suitable means may be provided for settingup this whirl while the material is so confined, as

long as it serves to divide the material and the air into two portions,and as long as it is adapted to exert the shearing action, as well asthe centriiugal i'orce, above referred to, and as long as it is adaptedto engage streams of said liquid, or other material, and air, with eachother, one form of apparatus that is desirable is disclosed in the abovereferred to drawing.

Said apparatus comprises a casing made up of 'two'sectlons l4 and i5,each of which is provided with a flange I 8, through which securingmembers l1 extend, said securing members having heads I8 engaging theone flange i6 and being threaded to engage in threaded openings in theother flange IS. A flange I3 is formed partly on the member 14 andpartly on the member 15, and

iromthe central opening 19 in said flange i3 a pair of passages 20extend, one being formed in each of the casing portions I4 and 15. Thepassages 20 extend through openings 2! into the chamber'22, formedbetween the two halves of the casing I4 and IS, the passages 20gradually angle to the radial, being inclined backwardly from the hubportion to the periphery of the retor, considering the direction ofrotation 01 the rotor as being forward. While the particular angle atwhich said vanes or blades extend to a radial line, through their innerends, for example, may

be varied, these are shown as extending at substantially an angle ofdegrees to the radial in the drawing. Said blades or vanes taperoutwardly toward the periphery of the rotor, becoming gradually narrowerends, the edges thereof being formed on a gradual curve, as shown at 4|in Fig. 2. The casing portions I4 and i5 are similarly curved, the sidewalls of said casing adjacent the side edges of the bladed rotor beingof substantially the same contour as said blades, the walls graduallyapproaching each other toward the peripheral flanged portions it on acurve, as shown at 42 in Fig. 2. i

It will be noted that a clearance is shown between the edges 4| of theblades or vanes and the curved concave wall portion 42. It is to beunderstood that the clearance between these blades and the wall portionsis only sufficient for mechanical purposes, so that there will be noengagement of said blades with said wall portions, the edges of theblades and the wall portions being of substantially the same crosssectional condecreasing in size toward the opening 2!, avoiding anysharp comers or oil'sets, or variations in size therein that might causewhistling or other noise as the fluid passes through the passage 20. Inorder thatsaid passages will not have any reduced portions or sharpoflsets therein, the same are provided inthe form of tubular conduitshaving outer wall portions 28 that extend along opposite sides of thecasing members 14 and I5, so as to terminate inwardly from the outerperipheral edge oi. the annular portions of said casing from theoutletconduit 24, said outlet conduit having apassage 25 extendingoutwardly from the chamber 22between the two passages 20.

Within the chamber 22 provided between the casing members 14 and I5, isa rotor having a hub portion 26 and a central disk-like dividing wall21, which divides the easing into a pair of chambers 28 and 29 lying onopposite sides of said wall 21. Each of the casing portions l4 and I! isprovided with a bearing portion 30. A shaft ll is mounted in an openingin the hub portion 28 in flxed position, and is mounted for rotation inthe casing by means of the ball bearings 32 mounted inthe bearingportions 30. One bearing portion 30 is provided with a plug 80'providing a fluid tight closure, and a sleeve 33 in which the shaft 3|rotates is mounted in the other bearing member 30. Mounted on the shaft3| to rotate therewithis a pulley 34, which is provided with a groove inwhich the belt 86 operates for rotating the rotor, said belt beingdriven in any desired.

manner, as by means of a suitable pulley carried by the engine shaft, orby a shaft geared to the engine shaft or an internal combustion engine,said pulley engaging the sleeve 33. I

The rotor is rotated in the direction of the arrow, shown in Fig. 1, andis rotated at a very high velocity. Said rotor isprovided with blades orvanes 40 thereon, which are, preferably, arranged in staggered relationon opposite sides of the partitioning or dividing disk portion 21. Saidvane or blade members 40 are cast integral with the central partition 21and extend at an acute members and at a point spaced circumferentiallytour at their adjacent portions.

The disk-like central wall or partition portion 21 of the rotor endsshort of the blades or vanes 40, the vanes or blades having portions 43that extend outwardly beyond the peripheral edge 44 of the disk-likeportion 21, and said projecting blade portions 43 extend across theperipheral edge 44 of the disk-like portion 21, and closely adjacent theannular periphery of the chamber 22 adjacent the wall portions 42, so asto just have mechanical clearance from said casing beyond the peripheryof the disk-like portion. A space is thus provided between the vanes orblades 40, as shown at 45, between the casing wall and the peripheraledge of the disk-like portion 21.

It will be noted that at the lower end of the casingadjacent the outletpassage 25 said casin widens, as indicated at 46, to provide an outletchamber leading into the outlet passage 25, into which the peripheraledge or rim portion of the rotor extends. The members 14 and ii areprovided with flange portions 48 thereon, that together form a flangethat is bolted in fluid-tight relation to the flange on the inletconduit leading into the intake manifold of an internal combustionengine, for example, and the flange I3 is similarly bolted to a flangeon a conduit extending from a carburetor, or other means iorsupplylngfuel and air, the carburetor and intake manifold not being shown.

The rotation of the rotor in the casing draws the mixture or air andcombustible fluid in through the passages 20 and the openi 2| into saidcasing, part of the mixture of air and combustible 11 id passing throughthe one passage 20 into the chamber 28, and the other portion thereofthrough the other passage 20 into the chamber 29. As the mixture of airand combustible fluid is drawn into, the chambers it comes intoengagement with the vanes or blades on the rotor and is. given a violentcentrifugal whirling or whipping. motion, causing the same to be thrownoutwardly centriiugally toward the outer peripheral edge oi. the annularpassage adjacent toward their outer 'a,ss1,ora 1 combustible fluid to beforced between'said side walls and said blades Ill, and some of the sameto be thrown transversely across the peripheral edge 44 of thepartitioning means 21 from the chamber 28 to the chamber 29, and viceversa, thus causing a complete breaking up into a vapor of any of thefluid that may not have previously been in a vaporous state, andthoroughly and completely mixing the air and fluid vapor, so as to makea uniform blend thereof having a uniform proportion of air andcombustible vapor therein throughout the mass thereof. The rotation ofthe rotor throws theblended gaseous fuel outwardly toward the peripheryof the rotor and into the outlet chamber 41 and outlet passage 25,

the velocity given said combustible mixture causing the same. to passinto the intake manifold and to be injected into the cylinder, orcylinders,

, of the internal combustion engine, or other combustion chamber, thatmay be open to the intake manifold at the time that the combustiblemixture is being passed into the same.

It will be noted that the entrance of the'liquid, or solid material,andthe air, or other gas, that is .to be combined therewith, into thechamber in which the centrifugal whirl takes place, is cocentrically ofthe whirl through the openings 2|,

and that the material is introduced into said produced by the ordinarycarburetor can be vary greatly improved and the eiiiciency thereofgreatly increased by introducing the same into a cham-- ber and dividingthe same into two portions and rotatably impelling each portion -of thesame at high velocity in the same direction to whip the same about inthe chamber, and break up all of the particles of liquid fuel, or finelydividedsolid fuel, that are carried in the air, so as to finely divideand substantially vaporize all thereof, iinely dividing the air andintimately mixing the air and finely divided fuel particles, or vapor,so as to produce a uniform fuel mixture of a substantially vaporous, orgaseous, nature. The whipping, or whirling about, is, preferably, donein a chamber that closelyconforms in size and shape to the impellingmeans, so'that a sort of shearing action takes place between theimpelling means and the walls of the chamber, and so that the twowhirling masses of material, comprising air and a combustible fuelmaterial, for example, are directed centrifugally outwardly toward theperiphery of the chamber and of the rotative impelling means. Thus twocentrifugal whirls of said material that is being finely divided andblended are created and into engagement with each other at the peripherychamber into the whirl at a point such that the material has to travelin the whirl at least through an arc of over 180 degrees of said whirlbefore passing into the discharge passage or outlet from the chamber. Itwill also be noted that the liquid, or solid material, and the gaseousmaterial, such as the air, are immediately thrown into a whirlingmovement upon passing intothe chamber, due to engagement of the rotorvanes therewith,.and that the air and liquid, or solid particlestherein, are thrown outwardly due to the centrifugal force created bythe rapid whirling motion produced by the rotating element in thechamber, and that streams of said air, or other gas, with the liquid, orsolid particles therein, are thrown outwardly centrifugally and acrossthe periphery of the central partition provided by the member 21 fromone side to the other side of said partition, as indicated by the arrowsin Fig. 1, said streams violently inter-engaging'to further break up anddivide the material in the chamber, so that a substantially vaporous, orfog-like, product results, having the air, or other gaseous ingredient,so thoroughlymixed with the liquid, or solid, ingredient, and saidliquid, or solid, ingredient, so finely divided that a vapor, or fog, ofsaid liquid, or solid ingredient, air, or other gaseous material,results.

and said Inca 'yingoutthe method ofproducing the vaporous, or fog-likemixture of air, or other similar gaseous material, and a liquid, or apowdered solid material, such as producing a combustible mixture orincreasing the combustibility of a fuel comprising air and a liquid, orfinely powdered fuel ingredient, the material, or materials, thataretobeincorporatedintheairtoproducethe vaporous, or fog-like product.are whirled and whipped about in a chamber, or other space, such as thechamber above described, to nnely divide the same and, preferably,produce a vapor, or fog, thereof. In the case of a combustible mixturethis may be done in combination with a carburetor, or other similar.means, for producing a combustible mixture of the character now utilizedin internal combustion engines, or in any other desired r be engagedwith manner. The combustible mixture 7c the whirl in the of the whirls,so that streams, under centrifugal force, of said air containing liquid,or solid particles, are thrown into violent engagement with each othertransversely of the chamber to further' thoroughly break up, finelydivideand vaporize the liquid particles, or make a substantial vapor ofthe air and solid particles that ma be so treated.

While the ordinary carburetor is referred to for producing-a mixture ofair and liquid particles entrained in the air, this can be done in otherways, such as by merely passing the air over a body of fuel, so as topick up the volatile portions thereof and carry the same along in thestream of air and then rotatively impelling, or whipping, or whirling,the same about in a chamber in two separate portions, so as to producethe two centrifugal whirls that produce the inter-engaging m at theperiphery thereof, as above de- It is desirable,to obtain completecombustion of a fuel mixture, to introduce additional air into the fuelmixture produced by the ordinary carburetor at the time of introductioninto the chamber in which the whirling takes place, or prior to suchintroduction, so as to whip about the comwith additional air and make abustible mixture thorough uniform blend of air and said combustiblematerial,

was previously the My method can also be carried out with a fuelingredient that is notof a volatile or readily vaporiaable character,such as a liquid that is not readily vaporissble, or a powdered fuelmaterial, or a liquid fuel material and such a powdered solid fuelmaterial together. The liquid of a less volatile character than theusual internal combustion ensine fuel and/or the solid iinely powderedfuel material, can be mixed with air in any desired manner, as byspraying the same with ordinary spraying fuel and air into the isdivided Into two violently. so as to chamber in which the same portionsand whirled about cause the streams of fuel to each other at theperiphery of are directed transversely means, into a body of .air 1 themixture of the sprayed manner'previously referred to. Y

vapors, gases and solid form can be incorporated or mixed with air, so

' thematerial so introduced and mosphere, so as her without restrictionand to provide for the lure. This is particularly true ter of the whirl,as previously mentioned, orcentrallyof the whirl. I

While liquid fuel material, powdered fuel material, and air, have beenreferred to above, my

method is not limited to the production of combustible fuel mixtures inthis manner, as any liquid, or powdered material, or a liquid andpowdered material, or a blend of a plurality of liquids, can be mixedwith air to produce a fine vapor, mist, or spray, in which the liquid,or solid ingredient, is sofinely divided that the resultant product issubstantially a vapor, or a fog, or mist, by'my improved method, and theresultant product can be utilized in many ways advantageously. Thus onematerial can be coated with another material much moreevenly andsmoothly, by so finely dividing the same and carrying the same in astream of air into engagement with the member upon which the coating isto be placed, than if the spraying is doneby means of the ordinary spraygun, or other spraying device, now in use,

in which air underpressure, or similar means,

is utilized to produce the spray, or in which the spray is produced bymerely allowing the material to travel outwardly on a rotating diskuntil it splatters off the edge thereof. While such a splatter may be afine splatter,or maybe referred to as a spraying of the material, thesame is still distinctly in drops,- or fine droplets, whereas, by theuse of my method, the material isno longer in the form of drops that'canbe recognized as such, but is thoroughly intermingled and intimatelyassociated with the air, so as to make a substantially uniform blendwith the air, permitting the application of the material thus carried inthe air, to a surface or to any other object, much more smoothly andevenly 'than would otherwise be possible.

Furthermore my method can be used for producingair mixtures with variousmaterials thati it is desirable to mix with air for-various purposes,that cannot now be thoroughly enough mixed-with air to be carried alongby the air for any length of'time, exceptby other than mechanical means,such as other vapors or gases, or mixtures. of gases or vapors withliquids, or powdered solid materials. Thus-my method can beused forhumidifying air, by merely introducing a spray of watenand air into thechamberreferred to, and whirling and whipping the same -about, so as tocompletely vaporize the water and makes. mixture of air and-water suchthat it will be a substantially true vapor and in which the humidity ofthe air will be controlled, so as to obtain, thedesired relativehumidity thereof entirely by mechanical means; 'I'hus liquids, materialsin finely divided the air or without the additionof 'heator the use ofheat in connection with the method.

In carrying out my method it is usually desirable to have the chamber inwhich the rotative whirls are set upunreatrictedly open to the attopermit air to enter the chamwhere a liquid is either the liquid or oneor more of the g blended with air or other gas,-or means a tendency tocondense whensubiectedt a, sure that is higher than that of theatxriosplie're:'i': While heat is not necessary or desira -'f6ifobtaining the vaporous mixtures containiri by the method described"herein, yet if iti sirable to use heat'in connection with the production of the vaporous mixtures, or if'iti's de"-- sired to have theseat a relatively high temperature above that of the atmosphere, heat'canbe" used in' conjunction with my method, by either heating the'air orthe material mixed therewith, or both, as may be desired.

1'. "I'he'methcd of producing auniform mixture of a liquid andages-comprising separating said liquid and gas into portions, rotativelyimpelling each of said portions to whip the same about separately tocreate a,centrifugal whirl of said gas and liquid of each of saidportions, directing streams of said gas containing said liquid from eachof said centrifugal whirls into violent en-, gagement with each otheraround the periphery of said whirls while under the influence of thecentrifugal forcecreated by said whipping, to mix said streams, andcontinuously positively rotatively impelling said-mixed streams tofinely divide and intimately blend said liquid and gas.

2. The method of producing a uniform mixture of a mobile fuel and air,comprising introducing said fueland air into a chamber and separatingthe same into portions, rotatively whipping each of saidportions aboutin said chamber separately to create a centrifugal whirl of said fueland air of each of said portions and throw the same against the walls ofsaidchamber with sufficient force to finely divide the same, directingstreams of said air containing said fuel from each of said centrifugalwhirls transversely into violent engagement with each other around theperiphery of said whirls while under the influence of the centrifugalforce created by said whipping to mix said streams, and continuouslypositively rotatively impelling said mixed streams to further finelydivide and intimately blend said air and fuel.

w 3. Themethod of producing a uniform mixture of a combustible powderedmaterial and air, comprising introducing said powdered material and airinto a chamber and separating-the same int'o portions, rotativelywhipping each of said portionsabout in said chamber separately to createa centrifugal whirl of said powdered material and air of each'of saidportions, and directing streams of said air containing said powderedmaterial from each of said centrifugal whirls into violent engagementwith each other at the periphery of said whirls while under theinfluence of the centrifugal force created by said whipping to finelydivide and intimately blend said air and powdered material.

4. The method of producing auniform combustible vapor of a vaporizableliquid fiuei and air; comprising introducing said fuel and air into achamber and separating the same into portions, rotatively whipping eachof said portions about I in said chamber separately to create acentrifugal whirl of said vaporizable liquid fuel and air of each ofsaid portions and directing streams of said air containing saidvaporizable liquid fuel from each of said centrifugal whirls intoviolent engagement with each other at the periphery of said whirls whileunder the influence of the centrifugal force created by said "whippingto completely va- 1 the walls of said porize said'liquid fuel andintimately'blend said vaporized liquid fuel and said air into ahomogeneous combustible vapor.

5. The method of producing a uniform combustible vapor comprisingcontacting air with a volatile liquid to produce a fuel mixture of saidair and liquid, creating separate centrifugal whirls of said fuelmixture in a chamber, continuously feeding said mixture to said whirlseccentrically thereof, rotatively whipping said mixture immediateiy uponentering said centrifugal whirls to impart centrifugal .force theretoand throw the same against the walls of said chamber with suificientforce to finely divide the same, continuously directing streams of saidmixture from each of said centrifugal whirls into violent engagementwitheach other at the periphery of-said whirls while under the influence ofsaid centrifugal force to further divide and create a vaporous blend ofsaid liquid with said air, and continuously discharging said vaporousblend from said chamher at the periphery of said whirls while under theinfluence of said centrifugal force,

'6. The method of producing a uniformly blended fuel mixture comprisingspraying a combustible liquid into air to provide a mixture of suspendedcombustible liquid particles and air, creating separate centrifugalwhirls of said mixture of a combustible liquid and air in a chamber,continuously feeding said mixture of said combustible liquid and air tosaid whirls, rotatively whipping said mixture immediately upon enteringsaid centrifugal whirls to impart centrifugal force thereto and throwthe same against chambenwith sufficient force to finely divide the same,continuously directing streams of said air containing said finelydivided combustible liquid from each of said centrifugal whirls intoviolent engagement with each other at the periphery of said whirls whileunder the influence of said centrifugal force to further divide andcreate a mist-like blend of said liquid with said air, and continuouslydischarging said blend from said chamber at the, periphery of saidwhirls while under the influence of said centrifugal force.

'I. The method of producing a uniformly blended fuel mixture comprisingspraying a com bustible powder into air to provide a mixture ofsuspended combustible solid particles and air, creating separatecentrifugal whirlsof said mixture of powder and air in a chamber,continuously feeding saidmixture of said combustible powder and air tosaid whirls, rotatively whipping said mixture immediately-upon enteringsaid centrifsal whirls to impart centrifugal force thereto and throw thesame against the walls of said chamber with sufiicient force to finelydivide the same, continuously directing streams of said air containingsaid finely divided combustible powder from each of said centrifugalwhirls into violent engagement with each other at the periphery of saidwhirls while under the influence of said centrifugal force to furtherdivide and create a mist-like blend of said powder with said air, andcontinuously discharging said blen'd from said ping said mixtureimmediately upon entering said centrifugal whirls to impart centrifugalforce thereto and throw the same against the walls of said chamber withsufilcient force to finely divide the same, continuously directingstreams of said air containing said finely divided-combustible materialfrom each of said centrifugal whirls into violent-engagement with eachother at the periphery of said whirls while under the influence of saidcentrifugal force to further divide and create a mistlike, vaporousblend of said liquid, powdered material and air and continuouslydischarging said blend from said chamber at the periphery of said whirlswhile under the influence of said centrifu- 7 gal force.

9. Ijhe method of producing a uniform blend of a liquid and air,comprising creating separate centrifugal-whirls'in the same direction ofa mixture of particles of said liquid and air in a chamber, continuouslyfeeding said mixture to said whirls e'ccentrically theerof, rotativelywhipimmediately upon entering said whirls to impart centrifugallforcethereto and throw the same against the walls of said chamber withsufllcient force to finely, divide and intimately mix the same,continuously directing streams of said air containing said finelydivided liquid-from each of said centrifugal whirls into violentengagement with each other around the periphery of said whirls whileunder the influence of said centrifugal force to mix said. streams,continuously positively rotatively impelling said mixed streams tofurther divide and create a uniform intimate blend of said liquid-withsaid air and continuously discharging said blend under the influence ofsaid centrifugal force from said chamber at the periphery of saidwhirls.

10. The method of producing a uniform blend of a powder and air,comprising creating separate centrifugal whirls in the same direction ofa mixture of particles of said powder and air in -a chamber,continuously feeding said mixture to said whirls, rotatively whippingsaid mixture immediately upon entering said whirls to im- P partcentrifugal force thereto and throw the same against the walls of saidchamber with sufiicient force to. finely divide and intimately mix thesame, continuously directing streams of chamber at the periphery of saidwhirls while under the influence of said centrifugalforce.

8. The method of producing a uniformly blended fuel mixture of apowdered combustible material, a combustible liquid and air, comprisingcreating separate centrifugal whirls of a mixture .of said powderedmaterial, said liquid and air, in a chamber, continuously feeding amixture of said combustible powdered material, liquid, and air said aircontaining said finely'divided powder from each of said centrifugalwhirls into violent engagement with each other around the periphery ofsaid whirls while under the influence of said centrifugal force tofurther divide and create a uniform intimate blend of said powder withsaid air and continuously discharging said blend. under the influence ofsaid centrifugal force from said chamber at theperiphery of said whirls.

11. The method of producing a uniform blend of a powder, a liquid andair, comprising creating separate centrifugal whirls in the samedirection of a mixture of particles of said powder and liquid and air ina chamber. continuously feeding said mixture to said whirls, rotativelywhipping said mixture immediately upon entering said whirls to impartcentrifugal force thereto and throw the same against the walls of saidchamber with sufficient force to finely divide and intimately mix thesame, continuously directing' streams of said air containing said finelydivided powder and liquid from each ofsaid centrifugal whirls intoviolent engagement with each other at the periphery of said whirls whileunder the influence of said centrifugal force to further to said whirls,rotatively whippin said mixture 7o divide and create a uniform intimateblend of said powder with said liquid-and of both said powder and liquidwith said air and continuously discharging said blend under theinfluence of said centrifugal force from said chamber at the peripheryof said whirls.

12. The method of producing a uniform blend of a liquid and air,comprising creating separate centrifugal whirls in the same direction ofa mixture of particles of said liquid and air in a chamber freely opento the atmosphere, continuously feeding said mixture to said whirlseccentrically thereof, rotatively whipping said mixture immediately uponentering said whirls to impart centrifugal force thereto and throw thesame against the walls of said chamber with sufficient force to finelydivide and intimately mix the same, continuously directing streams ofsaid air containing said finely divided liquid from each of saidcentrifugal whirls into violent engagement with each other at theperiphery of said whirls while under the influence of said centrifugalforce to mix said streams, continuously positively rotatively impellingsaid mixed streams to further divide and create a uniform intimate blendof said liquid with said air and continuously discharging said blendunder the influence of said centrifugal force from said chamber at theperiphery of said whirls unrestrictedly at substantially atmosphericpressure.

13. The method of producing a uniform mixture of a liquid in-the liquidstate and a gas, Y

comprising introducing said liquid and gas into a chamber freely open tothe atmosphere and separating the same into portions, rotativelywhipping each of said portions about in said chamber separately tocreate a centrifugal whirl of said gas and liquid of each of saidportions,

and directing streams of said gas containing said liquid from each ofsaid centrifugal whirls into violent engagement with each other at theperiphery of said whirls while under the influa of a plurality ofliquids and air, comprising creating separate centrifugal whirls in thesame direction of a mixture of said liquids n the liquid state and airin a chamber, continuously feeding said mixture to said whirls,rotatively whipping said mixture immediately upon entering said whirlsto impart centrifuga1 force thereto and throw the same against the wallsof said chamber with suflicient force to finely divide and intimatelymix the same, continuously directing streams of said air containing saidliquids from each of said centrifugal whirls into violent engagementwith each other at the periphery of said whirls while under theinfluence of said centrifugal force to mix said streams, continuouslypositively rotatively impelling said mixed streams to further divide andcreate a uniform intimate blend of said liquids with said air and witheach other and continuously discharging said blend under the influenceof said centrifugal force from said chamber at the periphery of saidwhirls.

HERMANN H. SCHMIDT.

